About BBJ
BioBank Japan (BBJ) was established in 2003 at the Institute of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo as a national project supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, aiming to realize personalized medicine based on the genetic information of each individual. The BBJ collected biological samples and clinical information donated by as many as 270,000 collaborating patients through cooperative medical institutions nationwide from fiscal years 2003 to 2017 and stored them in robust storage facilities under the strictest security measures. These samples and information, removed personal information such as the name, address, date of birth, etc., and assigning a new ID number for research are supplied to researchers in academic research institutions and private companies who aim at advancing genomic medicine and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in accordance with laws, regulations and guidelines.
– Start of one of the world’s largest disease biobank projects
The BBJ was established aiming to develop an infrastructure for the realization of personalized medicine by collecting biological samples (DNA/serum) and clinical information from 200,000 collaborating patients (300,000 cases) with 47 diseases through cooperative medical institutions nationwide, forming the first cohort. The genetic analysis of DNA samples was conducted.
– Expansion with more samples and information
Stable maintenance and operation of the biobank by further collecting samples, clinical information and prognostic information toward utilization of the first cohort’s samples and information. Serum samples were collected once a year from the collaborating patients visiting cooperative medical institutions.
– Growing scale with the cooperation of 67,000 new collaborators
We continued to collect clinical and prognostic information, conduct genomic analysis, and disclose data of the first cohort to promote its utilization. Furthermore, we established a second cohort by collecting blood (DNA) and clinical information from 67,000 (100,000 cases)new collaborators. In 2014 we built an additional serum/plasma storage facility and a new tissue bank. In 2015 we started storing samples provided by cancer clinical research groups in Japan.
– Growth to 267,000 collaborators and 51 diseases; converting samples into data
We promoted utilization of the DNA, serum, and clinical information of a total of 267,000 collaborators with 51 diseases (440,000 cases) in the first and second cohorts, as well as the conversion of biological samples into data to entrench the BBJ as a much-used biobank.
– Toward the further utilization of samples and data
We are promoting the use of samples, clinical information, and genomic data by researchers in both industry and academia by fostering collaboration, establishing infrastructure for genomic and other omics analysis and advancing transformation through digital technology. Also, a system enabling a direct interaction with collaborators is under developpment.